Device for eliminating condensate for air conditioners, air conditioner and method for eliminating condensate

ABSTRACT

A device for eliminating condensation for air conditioners comprises a control unit and a valve connected to the control unit, the valve having an inlet suitable for being connected to at least one first heat exchanger and at least one first outlet suitable for being connected to at least one second heat exchanger, wherein the control unit is suitable for setting the opening and the closing of the first outlet of the valve for conveying the condensation towards the second heat exchanger.

The present invention relates to device for eliminating condensation inair conditioners. The present invention also relates to an airconditioner and a method for eliminating condensation in an airconditioner.

BACKGROUND ART

Air conditioners are devices that are normally used to cool air by meansof a refrigeration cycle.

Air conditioners comprise a refrigerant flow circuit housing acompressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a throttling unit insertedbetween the condenser and the evaporator.

In “cooling” mode, the compressor compresses the refrigerant vapour atlow temperature and low pressure and brings it, still as a vapour, to ahigh temperature and high pressure. The vapour is sent to the condenserthrough copper pipes. The condenser cools the vapour and then turns itinto a liquid by discharging heat to the outside air, which is heated.After passing through the condenser, the refrigerant—now in liquid formbut still at high pressure—passes through the throttling unit, usually acapillary tube, thus changing from high to low pressure, while retainingits liquid form. The low-pressure, low-temperature liquid is carried tothe evaporator, where it is turned into a vapour by heat absorption. Itthen cools the air in the room where it is placed. The refrigerant thenreturns to the compressor in vapour form and the cycle resumes.

The latest air conditioners can also work in heating mode by reversingthe direction of the refrigerant flow. In this mode, also known as the“heat pump” method, the refrigerant flow is reversed by a four-wayvalve, which, in the winter, enables a certain amount of heat to beabsorbed from the low-temperature outside air and discharged to theinside air at a high temperature.

There are air conditioners comprising an indoor unit and an outdoorunit. The outdoor unit houses the condenser and the motor of the airconditioner; the indoor unit, or “split” unit, houses the evaporator,and air is fed into the room through a purpose-designed slot.

Recently “monoblock” devices have also come onto the market, which donot have an outdoor unit, can use air or water condensation, are formedby a single element and perform the functions of both the indoor andoutdoor unit.

In both types of air conditioner, condensation forms on both thecondenser and the evaporator.

In “cooling” mode, condensation forms on the evaporator (generallyhoused in the indoor unit) due to the difference in temperature comparedwith the humid air present in the room. In heating mode, condensationforms on the heat exchanger which is generally positioned outdoors oncedefrosted during the inverted refrigeration cycle.

Condensation is usually collected in trays that must be periodicallyemptied, or removed by the force of gravity through purpose-designedoutdoor drains. Where condensation cannot be removed through suchdrains, a pump must be used.

However, these systems require the presence of piping and exhaust ductsoutside of the air conditioner itself and, therefore, cannot always beimplemented in buildings where the air conditioner is installed (forexample, they cannot be installed in historic buildings). Furthermore,they cannot be implemented for monoblock air conditioners, in which thetwo units are integrated into a single element positioned inside a room.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the abovementioneddrawbacks by enabling condensation to be definitively removed withoutincreasing the overall size of the air conditioner, while avoiding theimplementation of purpose-designed drains.

The invention fulfils this aim by means of a device for eliminatingcondensation that has the features defined in claim 1.

The device according to the present invention enables the condensationforming on an exchanger to be removed by moving it to the otherexchanger to be vaporised. Furthermore, the device can be installed inan existing air conditioner simply by connecting it accordingly to thecomponents of the air conditioner itself.

Advantageously, the valve has at least one second outlet that issuitable for being connected to the second heat exchanger, and thecontrol unit is suitable for setting the opening and closing of thesecond outlet of the valve for conveying the condensation towards thesecond heat exchanger. This allows the device to be used when operatingthe air conditioner in both cooling mode and heating mode, and offersthe guarantee that condensation will be removed and disposed of in anyoperating mode.

Preferably, the device comprises a pump with an inlet suitable for beingconnected to the first heat exchanger and/or the second exchanger, wherethe pump is suitable for conveying the condensation from the first heatexchanger and/or the second heat exchanger towards the valve. Thisallows condensation to be transferred to the valve efficiently.

Advantageously, the device comprises at least one collecting tankinterposed between the first heat exchanger and the pump and/or betweenthe second exchanger and the pump, where the tank is suitable forcollecting the condensation from the first heat exchanger and/or fromthe second heat exchanger. The device preferably comprises at least onelevel sensor positioned in the collection tank and connected to thecontrol unit. In this way, the valve opens towards an exchanger when acertain level of condensation is exceeded.

A preferred embodiment of the device comprises at least one nebuliser orvaporiser positioned downstream of the valve. In particular, the valvehas a third outlet connected to the nebuliser/vaporiser.

An advantageous embodiment of the device comprises at least one humiditysensor suitable to be positioned in a room, wherein the humidity sensoris connected to the control unit.

Preferably, the control unit commands the opening and closing of thevalve outlet towards the nebuliser/vaporiser by means of a signal fromthe level sensor and/or from the humidity sensor.

The control unit can then control the opening of the valve towards thenebuliser/vaporiser—thus vaporising condensation to the outdoor air—ifthe condensation has not been eliminated effectively by the heatexchangers or if the humidity in the room where the air conditioner isplaced exceeds a certain level.

Advantageously, the control unit is suitable to be connected to a cycleinversion valve of the air conditioner and commands the opening andclosing of the valve outlet towards the first heat exchanger or towardsthe second heat exchanger) depending on the cycle inversion. This allowsthe device for eliminating condensation to operate automatically both incooling mode and in heating mode.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an air conditionercomprises the features of claim 11.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method foreliminating condensation in an air conditioner condensation comprisesthe features of claim 15.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages and features of the present invention will becomemore apparent from the detailed description below with reference to theaccompanying drawings, which show a non-limiting embodiment, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an operating arrangement for an air conditioner in“cooling” mode, in which a device according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention is inserted;

FIG. 2 shows the operating arrangement for the air conditioner referredto in FIG. 1, in “heating” mode.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows, with reference number 1, a device for eliminatingcondensation according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. The device 1 is inserted inside an air conditioner 2.

The air conditioner 2 is preferably operable both in “cooling” mode andin “heating” (“heat pump”) mode. However, the device 1 according to theinvention can also be used within a “cold only” air-conditioning unit.

The air conditioner 2 comprises, in the known way, a refrigerant flowcircuit 3 comprising a compressor 4, a first heat exchanger 5, a secondheat exchanger 6 and a throttling unit 7, such as a capillary tube or acontrol valve, inserted between the first heat exchanger 5 and thesecond heat exchanger 6.

In cooling mode, shown in FIG. 1, the vapour contained in the circuit 3of the air conditioner 2 is brought to a high pressure and hightemperature in the compressor 4 before moving to the first heatexchanger 5. In this mode, the first heat exchanger 5 serves as acondenser. In the first heat exchanger-condenser 5, the vapour is turnedinto a liquid by discharging heat to the outside air. Then, thethrottling unit 7 reduces the pressure of the liquid from the first heatexchanger-condenser 5 and regulates the quantity of the liquid to besent to the second heat exchanger 6.

In cooling mode, the second heat exchanger 6 serves as an evaporator. Inthe second heat exchanger-evaporator 6, the liquid absorbs heat from theroom to cool the room and is turned into a vapour. It is then redirectedto the compressor 4 to resume the cycle.

In cooling mode, condensation forms on the second heatexchanger-evaporator 6 due to the difference in temperature compared tothe humid air in the room, which comes into contact with the second heatexchanger-evaporator 6.

In the heating mode shown in FIG. 2, the vapour contained in the circuit3 of the air conditioner 2 is brought to a high pressure and hightemperature in the compressor 4, before moving to the second heatexchanger 6. In cooling mode, the second heat exchanger 6 serves as acondenser. In the second heat exchanger-condenser 6, the vapourdischarges heat into the room to heat the room and turns into a liquid.The throttling unit 7 then decreases the pressure of the liquid from thesecond heat exchanger-condenser 6 and regulates the quantity of theliquid to be sent to the first heat exchanger 5. In cooling mode, thefirst heat exchanger 5 serves as an evaporator.

In the first heat exchanger-evaporator 5, the liquid absorbs heat fromthe outside air and is turned into a vapour. It is then redirected tothe compressor 4 to resume the cycle.

Also in heating mode, condensation forms on the first heatexchanger-evaporator 5 after defrosting as part of the invertedrefrigeration cycle.

To eliminate the condensation that forms on the heat exchanger,according to the present invention a device 1 is provided whichcomprises a control unit 8 and a valve 9 connected to the control unit8, where the valve 9 has an inlet 10 connectable to at least one firstheat exchanger, which will be the first heat exchanger 5 of therefrigeration circuit if the air conditioner is operating in heatingmode or the second heat exchanger 6 if the air conditioner is operatingin cooling mode, at least one first outlet connectable to at least onesecond heat exchanger, which will be the second exchanger 6 in therefrigeration circuit if the air conditioner is operating in heatingmode or the first heat exchanger 5 if the air conditioner is operatingin cooling mode, wherein the control unit 8 is suitable for setting theopening and closing of the first outlet of the valve 9 for conveying thecondensation towards the second heat exchanger.

The valve 9 is preferably a solenoid valve.

The method for eliminating the condensation according to the presentinvention therefore comprises the steps of conveying the condensationfrom the first heat exchanger 5 to the valve 11 and opening the firstoutlet 11 of the valve 9 by means of the control unit 8 to convey thecondensation to the second heat exchanger 6.

Advantageously, the valve 9 has at least one second outlet 12connectable to the first heat exchanger 5 so as to remove condensationboth in cooling mode and in heating mode. Advantageously, the inlet ofthe valve 9 is also connected to the second heat exchanger 6.

In a preferred embodiment, the valve 9 has a third outlet 13 to conveycondensation out of the air conditioner 2. Advantageously, the device 1comprises a nebuliser or vaporiser 14 connected to the third outlet 13of the valve 9 so as to eliminate condensation by vaporising it to theoutside air.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the device 1 comprises a pump 15positioned upstream from the valve 9. In cooling mode, the inlet 16 ofthe pump 15 is connected to at least the second heat exchanger 6. Wherethe air conditioner 2 is operable in both modes, the inlet 16 of thepump 15 is connected both to the first heat exchanger 5 and to thesecond heat exchanger 6.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, a collecting tank 17 is providedto collect the condensation from at least the second heat exchanger 6when in cooling mode. The collecting tank 17 is positioned upstream fromthe pump 15. Where the air conditioner 2 is operable in both modes, thecollecting tank 17 is connected to both the first heat exchanger 5 andthe second heat exchanger 6.

In this embodiment, the method includes the step of collecting thecondensation from the exchanger in the collecting tank 17 and settingthe level of condensation in the collecting tank 17 before conveying thecondensation to the valve 9, preferably by means of a pump 15.

Advantageously, the collecting tank 17 houses a level sensor 18connected to the control unit 8. In a preferred embodiment, the levelsensor 18 comprises a two-stage float switch or an infrared levelindicator.

In an advantageous embodiment, the method includes the steps ofascertaining the humidity of the room in which the second heat exchanger6 is placed and opening the third outlet 13 of the valve by means of thecontrol unit 8 to convey condensation to a nebuliser/vaporiser 14 if thehumidity is greater than a predetermined value.

In particular, the device 1 comprises a humidity sensor 19 connected tothe control unit 8. The sensor 19 detects the humidity of the room inwhich the air conditioner 2 is placed if monoblock, or in which theinternal unit is placed for an air conditioner 2 comprising a secondheat exchanger 6.

The figures show an air conditioner 2 operable in both cooling mode andheating mode. In this case, the air conditioner 2 comprises arefrigeration cycle inversion valve 20, which is usually a four-wayvalve attached to the compressor 4 to reverse the direction of flow ofthe refrigerant in the circuit 3.

The valve 20 is connected to the circuit board of the air conditioner 2.Preferably, the refrigeration cycle inversion valve 20 is connected tothe control unit 8 of the device 1 for eliminating condensation.

Where the throttling unit 7 comprises a control valve, the control valveis preferably connected to the control unit 8 of the device 1 foreliminating condensation.

The valve 9 of the device 1 for eliminating condensation is thereforecontrolled according to whether the cooling/heating mode is in operationand receives a signal from the cycle inversion valve 20.

The air conditioner 2 housing the device 1 for eliminating condensationoperates as shown below.

In the cooling mode shown in FIG. 1, condensation forms on the secondheat exchanger 6. The condensation is conveyed to the collecting tank17.

In the advantageous embodiment shown, when the level sensor 18positioned in the collecting tank 17 indicates that a firstpredetermined value has been exceeded, the control unit 8 commands theopening of the second outlet 12 of the valve 10 towards the first heatexchanger-condenser 5. In cooling mode, the first heatexchanger-condenser 5 reaches temperatures of around 90° C. and thecondensation is vaporised and discharged through a fan commonly attachedto the first heat exchanger-condenser 5.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the presentinvention, the quantity of condensation upstream from the valve 9 ismeasured and, if the level of condensation is greater than apredetermined value, the valve 9 is opened by the control unit 8 toconvey the condensation to the nebuliser/vaporiser 14.

In particular, if the condensation is not removed through the first heatexchanger-condenser 5, the level in the collecting tank 17 increases.When the level sensor 18 indicates that a second predetermined value hasbeen exceeded, the control unit 8 commands the closing of the secondoutlet 12 of the valve 9 towards the first heat exchanger-condenser 5and commands the opening of the third outlet 13 of the valve 9 towardsthe nebuliser/vaporiser 14.

Preferably, if the level sensor 18 indicates that the secondpredetermined value has been exceeded for a certain time, such as oneminute, the control unit 8 sends an alarm signal and/or commands the airconditioner 2 to be switched off.

In the embodiment shown in which the air conditioner 2 comprises therefrigeration cycle inversion valve 20, the method includes thefollowing steps: setting the direction of flow of the refrigerant andsetting the operating mode to cooling or heating; if the coolingoperating mode applies, conveying the condensation from the secondexchanger 6 to the valve 9 and opening the second outlet 12 of the valve11 towards the first heat exchanger 5; if the heating operating modeapplies, conveying the condensation from the first heat exchanger 5 tothe valve 9 and opening the first outlet 11 of the valve towards thesecond heat exchanger 6.

In particular, when changing from cooling mode to heating mode, thecycle inversion valve 20 changes the direction of flow of therefrigerant, which, upon exiting the compressor 4, moves first to thesecond heat exchanger 6 and then to the first heat exchanger 5, on whichcondensation forms. In this case, the control unit 8 receives a signalfrom the cycle inversion valve 20 to close the second outlet 12 of thevalve 9 towards the first heat exchanger 5.

In the heating mode shown in FIG. 2, the condensation forming on thefirst heat exchanger 5 is moved to the collecting tank 17.

According to the advantageous embodiment shown, when the level sensor 18positioned in the collecting tank 17 indicates that a firstpredetermined value has been exceeded, the control unit 8 commands theopening of the first outlet 11 of the valve 9 towards the second heatexchanger 6. The condensation is fed into the room in which the airconditioner 2, if monoblock, is placed or in which the internal unit, ifan air conditioner 2 comprising a second heat exchanger 6, is placed, toregulate the humidity levels.

If the humidity sensor 19 in the room indicates that a predeterminedvalue has been exceeded, the control unit 8 commands the closing of thefirst outlet 11 of the valve 9 and the opening of the third outlet 13 ofthe valve 9 towards the nebuliser/vaporiser 14.

In heating mode, as in the cooling mode, when the level sensor 18positioned in the collecting tank 17 indicates that a secondpredetermined value has been exceeded, the control unit 8 commands theclosing of the first outlet 11 of the valve 9 towards the second heatexchanger 6 and the opening of the third outlet 13 of the valve 9towards the nebuliser/vaporiser 14.

Preferably, if the level sensor 18 indicates that the secondpredetermined value has been exceeded for a certain time, such as oneminute, the control unit 8 sends an alarm signal and/or commands the airconditioner 2 to be switched off.

The device according to the present invention therefore enablescondensation to be effectively removed without requiringpurpose-designed drains to be fitted when installing the airconditioner. Condensation is removed by the heat exchangers alreadypresent in the air conditioner.

The device can be built into any type of air conditioner, whether itcomprises two units or a single unit. Furthermore, the device does notincrease the size of the air conditioner, as the control unit, the valveand the pump and collection tank, where provided, are placed inside theair conditioner.

1. A device for eliminating condensation for air conditioners, thedevice comprising a control unit and a valve connected to the controlunit, the valve having an inlet suitable for being connected to at leastone first heat exchanger and at least one first outlet suitable forbeing connected to at least one second heat exchanger, wherein thecontrol unit is suitable for setting the opening and the closing of thefirst outlet of the valve for conveying the condensation towards thesecond heat exchanger.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein thevalve has at least one second outlet suitable for being connected to thefirst heat exchanger, and the control unit is suitable for setting theopening and the closing of the second outlet of the valve for conveyingthe condensation towards the first heat exchanger.
 3. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein it comprises a pump having an inletsuitable for being connected to the first heat exchanger and/or to thesecond heat exchanger, the pump being suitable for conveying thecondensation arriving from the first heat exchanger and/or from thesecond heat exchanger towards the valve.
 4. The device according toclaim 1, wherein it comprises at least one collecting tank for thecondensation interposed between the first heat exchanger and the pumpand/or between the second heat exchanger and the pump, the tank beingsuitable for collecting the condensation arriving from the first heatexchanger and/or from the second heat exchanger.
 6. The device accordingto claim 4, wherein it comprises at least one level sensor positioned inthe collecting tank and connected to the control unit.
 7. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein it comprises at least one nebulizer orvaporizer positioned downstream of the valve.
 8. The device according toclaim 6, wherein the valve has a third outlet connected to the nebulizeror vaporizer.
 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein it comprisesat least one humidity sensor suitable for being positioned in a room,wherein the humidity sensor is connected to the control unit.
 10. Thedevice according to claim 7, wherein the control unit commands theopening and the closing of the third outlet of the valve towards thenebulizer or vaporizer depending on a signal arriving from the levelsensor and/or from the humidity sensor.
 11. The device according toclaim 1, wherein the control unit is suitable for being connected to acycle inversion valve of the air conditioner and commands the openingand the closing of the outlet of the valve of the device towards thefirst heat exchanger or towards the second heat exchanger depending onthe cycle inversion.
 12. An air conditioner comprising a circuit for thecirculation of a coolant fluid; a compressor for bringing the coolantfluid from a first pressure to a second pressure which is higher thanthe first; a first heat exchanger positioned downstream of thecompressor; a second heat exchanger positioned upstream of thecompressor; a throttling unit, preferably a capillary tube or a controlvalve, interposed between the first heat exchanger and the second heatexchanger; and a device for eliminating condensation according to any ofthe preceding claims, wherein the inlet of the valve is connected atleast to the second heat exchanger; an outlet of the valve is connectedto the first heat exchanger; and the control unit is suitable forsetting the opening and the closing of the outlet of the valve forconveying the condensation towards the first heat exchanger.
 13. The airconditioner according to claim 11, wherein the inlet of the valve isconnected to the first heat exchanger, an outlet of the valve isconnected to the second heat exchanger, and the control unit is suitablefor setting the opening and the closing of the outlet of the valve forconveying the condensation towards the second heat exchanger.
 14. Theair conditioner according to claim 11, wherein the inlet of the pump isconnected to the first heat exchanger and/or to the second heatexchanger for conveying the condensation arriving from the first heatexchanger and/or from the second heat exchanger towards the valve. 15.The air conditioner according to claim 11, wherein it comprises acoolant cycle inversion valve, wherein the control unit commands theopening and the closing of the outlet of the valve of the device towardsthe first heat exchanger or towards the second heat exchanger dependingon the cycle inversion.
 16. A method for eliminating condensation in anair conditioner comprising a circuit for the circulation of a coolantfluid; a compressor for bringing the coolant fluid from a first pressureto a second pressure which is higher than the first, a first heatexchanger positioned downstream of the compressor; a second heatexchanger positioned upstream of the compressor; a throttling unit,preferably a capillary tube or a control valve, interposed between thefirst heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; and a device foreliminating condensation according to any of the preceding claims,wherein the inlet of the valve is connected to the second heat exchangerand an outlet of the valve is connected to the first heat exchanger; themethod comprising the steps of: conveying the condensation arriving fromthe second heat exchanger towards the valve, and opening the outlet ofthe valve by means of the control unit for conveying the condensationtowards the first heat exchanger.
 17. The method according to claim 15,wherein it comprises the step of ascertaining the quantity ofcondensation upstream of the valve and if the quantity of condensationis greater than a predetermined value, opening the valve by means of thecontrol unit for conveying the condensation towards a nebulizer orvaporizer.
 18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the airconditioner comprises a coolant fluid cycle inversion valve for causingoperation of the air conditioner in cooling or heating mode, wherein theinlet of the valve of the device for eliminating condensation isconnected to the first heat exchanger and wherein an outlet of the valveis connected to the second heat exchanger, the method beingcharacterised in that it comprises the steps of: determining the coolingor heating operating mode of the air conditioner; if the mode iscooling, conveying the condensation arriving from the second heatexchanger towards the valve and opening the second outlet of the valvetowards the first heat exchanger; if the operating mode is heating,conveying the condensation arriving from the first heat exchangertowards the valve and opening the first outlet of the valve towards thesecond heat exchanger.
 19. The method according to claim 15, wherein itcomprises the step of ascertaining the humidity of the room in which atleast the second heat exchanger is located and opening the valve bymeans of the control unit for conveying the condensation towards anebulizer or vaporizer if the humidity is greater than a predeterminedvalue.
 20. The method according to claim 15, wherein it comprises thestep of collecting the condensation arriving from the first heatexchanger and/or from the second heat exchanger in a collecting tank andascertaining the level of condensation in the collecting tank beforeconveying the condensation towards the valve, preferably by means of apump.